Unit 7 - Jewish Beliefs

Question 1

What do Jews believe about God?

Answer 1

• One God
• Creator
• Judge
• Law-giver

Question 2

Shekinah

Answer 2

It is God’s presence dwelling in the world.

Question 3

When is the Shekinah mentioned in scripture?

Answer 3

• In chronicles fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, then the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
• In exodus God guided the Israelites by day of a pillar of cloud and of fire by night.
• In exodus God’s presence guides Moses through the wilderness to the promised land.

Question 4

How is the Shekinah experienced?

Answer 4

• Prayer
• Study
• Worship

Question 5

Why is the Shekinah important?

Answer 5

• It means that Jews can be close to God whenever and wherever they are.
• It is a teaching of the Rabbis, as well as the Tenakh and the Torah.

Question 6

Divergent beliefs about the Shekinah?

Answer 6

• Some Jews see the Shekinah as being like the feminine attributes of the divine.
• Other Jews see it being more like the Holy Spirit.

Question 7

How is the Messiah presented in scripture?

Answer 7

1) Free the people of Israel from exile.
2) Bring them into an improved society that follows the law.

Question 8

What do Jews believe about the Messiah?

Answer 8

• He will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem - so he will unite all peoples of the world and make the world aware of the presence of God
• He will bring about the Messianic age
• He is a descendant of King David, being a charismatic leader
• He will be a human
• He will be a military leader
• He will be a political leader - well versed in Jewish law and able to judge people accordingly

Question 9

Why is the Messiah important in Jewish faith?

Answer 9

• It is one of the 13 key beliefs - Jews will pray for the coming of the Messiah daily.
• Jews will work for peace and justice, as when this is brought about they believe the Messianic age will come about.
• The messiah is believed to be the person who will lead the Jewish people back to Israel in the end of days.

Question 10

Divergent views of the Messianic age?

Answer 10

• Some Jews believe there is a possibility of the Messiah in every generation.
• Some believe that the Messiah will only come when all commands are followed by each and every Jew.
• Some believe God knows a set date.
• Some believe the Messiah will come when most needed, or most deserved.

Question 11

Covenant

Answer 11

An agreement between 2 parties, which benefits both. Both parties need to keep certain conditions or fulfill obligations.

Question 12

Brit olam

Answer 12

‘Everlasting covenant’
This shows Jews believe that God will not break the covenant. However, they recognise that from time to time they do not fulfil their obligations and break the law.

Question 13

Key events of the covenant at Sinai?

Answer 13

1) Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s household. He discovered his Jewish heritage and had to leave Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster.
2) God appeared to Moses as a burning bush and told him to return to Egypt to lead the Jewish people to freedom. He spoke to pharaoh and triggered ten plagues.
3) The final plague promoted Pharoah to allow Moses to leave with the Jewish people. He crossed the Reed Sea to freedom and took the people to Mount Sinai.
4) At Mount Sinai, God made a covenant with the Jewish people but with an important difference from earlier covenants: Jews who did not follow the agreements would be punished. It identified Jews as chosen people of God and the Ten Commandments were given.
5) Moses was then given the rest of the Torah and was also given the Oral Torah, later written as the Talmud.

Question 14

Why is the covenant important in Judaism?

Answer 14

• The law of the Torah is still followed today.
• The Torah is read in the synagogue every Sabbath from the scroll kept in the Ark.
• It is a covenant made with God, meaning that God especially made an agreement with the Jewish people showing his love for them.

Question 15

How does the covenant at Sinai impact Jews today?

Answer 15

• The 10 commandments are read 3 times a year, however most Rabbis emphasise the importance of the 613.
• Every synagogue has the tablets at the front, usually by the Ark.
• Traditional Jews are very strict with the laws, especially not working in the Sabbath, however modern Jews are a little less strict.

Question 16

Key events of the covenant with Abraham?

Answer 16

1) God called Abraham to leave his home and family. He was promised the reward of the land and many descendants.
2) Abraham sealed the covenant by circumcising himself and all the males in his family.
3) There were ten tests for Abraham; the first was leaving his home.
4) The final test was to sacrifice his son Isaac; and angel and stopped the sacrifice because Abraham and Isaac showed they were obedient.
5) The final test was to sacrifice his son Isaac; and angel and stopped the sacrifice because Abraham and Isaac showed they were obedient.

Question 17

Why is the covenant with Abraham important?

Answer 17

• Jews believe that the covenant with Abraham is when God gave them the promised land.
• As a sign of the covenant Jews get circumcised showing faith to God.
• Abraham himself is important as he is the father of the faith and monotheism.

Question 18

What’s the importance of the Holy Land?

Answer 18

• Many pilgrimages are associated to be completed there.
• Often Jews will pray for a return to the promised land.

Question 19

Pikuach Nefesh?

Answer 19

The importance and need to preserve human life.
In the Talmud it says that Pikuach Nefesh is the most important Mitzvot. You can break all other laws in order to save life.

Question 20

Why is Pikuach Nefesh an important Jewish belief?

Answer 20

• Guidance on moral and ethical issues.
• It’s a Mitzvot from God - overrides any do not commands.
• Values the holiness of life as a gift from God.

Question 21

How is belief in sanctity of life shown by Jews?

Answer 21

• Those who are ill are not permitted to fast on yom kipper.
• Doctors are allowed to answer emergency calls on Shabbat.
• Abortions to save the life of a mother are mandatory.

Question 22

Divergent Jewish attitudes towards abortion and contraception?

Answer 22

• Most Jews only allow abortion when the mothers life is at risk.
• Some more modern Jews are more lenient and may allow abortions in the first 40 days
• Most Jews allow contraception, however very traditional Jews do not agree with it.

Question 23

Divergent Jewish attitudes towards euthanasia?

Answer 23

• Some very traditional Jews do not agree with euthanasia or suicide whatsoever, even pulling of the life support machine is not allowed.
• All Jews agree that assisted dying is wrong, however many Jews would look with sympathy to those who commit suicide.

Question 24

Divergent Jewish attitudes towards organ donation?

Answer 24

• Modern Jews support organ donation
• Traditional Jews also support organ donation, however worry about when the transplant happens.
• Sometimes organs are transplanted before someone is dead, this means that death is being hastened which is not allowed.

Question 25

Mitzvot

Answer 25

Commandments that guide actions.

Question 26

Halakh

Answer 26

The list of Mitzvot that guide Jewish life.

Question 27

2 reasons Mitzvots are important?

Answer 27

• They are commands from God given to Moses found in the Torah
• They form part of the covenant agreed with God at Sinai

Question 28

What link do the Mitzvots have between humans and the almighty?

Answer 28

• Jews obey because the Mitzvots come from God
• Some Jews see them as a gift from God
• Observing Mitzvot shows gratitude to God
• They show the best way to live which deepens their relationship with God.
• Religious significance is given to everyday actions such as eating, by giving blessings for food.

Question 29

What link do the Mitzvots have between humans?

Answer 29

• The Mitzvot include rules on how humans should behave towards each other.
• Mitzvah used informally to mean ‘good deed’
-> Visiting the sick
-> Comforting mourners
-> Feeding the hungry
-> Helping the poor

Question 30

Mitzvots and freewill?

Answer 30

God seems to predetermine fate, for example telling Abraham his descendants would be enslaved, freed and return to Canaan. However, Jews do believe they have freewill. Philosophers thought God knew what would happen rather than determining what would happen. This is a sign of Gods omniscience. The Jewish tradition is that Jews agreed to live by the Mitzvot God set out: the starting point is that the commandments are correct and set out the best way to live. Everyday decision are therefore to choose between right or wrong.

Question 31

Are the mitzvots relevant to modern life?
For

Answer 31

• From God and therefore always relevant.
• Form the basis of the Sinai covenant and therefore the basis of the Jewish faith.
• The Talmud is that starting point for modern day questions like organ donation or abortion.

Question 32

Are the mitzvots relevant to modern life?
Against

Answer 32

• Some are outdated e.g. sacrificing animals in the temple
• Some Jews like reformed Jews, do not follow all the mitzvots, they use their freewill to choose which ones they wish to follow.
• May not address more modern day issues

Question 33

What do Jews believe about life after death?

Answer 33

• Jews believe that there is is an afterlife (Olam Ha-Ba, the world to come)
• Jews believe in a place called Gan Eden (heaven) and Gehinnom (hell) though Gehinnom may not be eternal.
• Those who follow the Mitzvot are rewarded and those who do not punished.
• Soul returns to God at death.

Question 34

Jewish belief on resurrection?

Answer 34

Some Jews believe it will happen when the Messiah comes and they will be taken to Israel, others believe it will be after this age.

Question 35

Jewish belief on judgement?

Answer 35

Those who are righteous will be rewarded, and those who are unrighteous will be punished. Obedience to the Mitzvots is important.

Question 36

Jewish teaching in heaven?

Answer 36

The place for the righteous.
Unclear wether souls will go there immediately after death, or in the messianic age.
Maimonides taught that righteous gentiles (those that have followed the Seven Laws of Noah) will also be rewarded.

Question 37

Jewish teaching on hell?

Answer 37

Place of punishment for the unrighteous - those who rejected the Torah.
Souls go there to be cleansed.
Rabbis taught that once cleansed, these souls move to Gan Eden.

Question 38

Divergent teachings on the resurrection?

Answer 38

• Some Jews reject the idea of an individual Messiah.
• Some Jews know the concept but don’t believe it.
• Some Jews believe in reincarnation.

Question 39

Divergent teachings on Heaven and Hell?

Answer 39

• Divergent beliefs wether the souls go there immediately after death or in the Messianic age.
• Rabbis believe that once cleansed souls move to Gan Eden.

Question 40

Why is life after death important in Judaism?

Answer 40

• Helps Jews feel like there life has a purpose.
• Encourages Jews to follow the Mitzvots.